The Gaudreau Law FirmThe Gaudreau Law Firm2026-04-08T15:17:01Zhttps://www.gaudreaulaw.net/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1503788/2022/07/cropped-icon-32x32.pngOn Behalf of The Gaudreau Law Firm<![CDATA[2 must-dos after a workplace injury to secure compensation]]>https://www.gaudreaulaw.net/?p=2543862023-09-14T00:26:50Z2023-09-14T00:26:50ZReport the injury immediately
The first and most crucial step after a workplace injury is to report it to your employer as soon as possible. This report should be made in writing, following your company’s established protocol for reporting workplace accidents. In many cases, there is a designated form to fill out or a specific person to inform. Promptly reporting the injury is crucial because it establishes a clear incident record, making it harder for your employer or their insurance company to dispute your claim later on.
When reporting the injury, include detailed information about how it happened, where it happened, the date and time and any witnesses present. Be as thorough as possible in describing your injuries and symptoms, no matter how minor they may seem at the time. Sometimes, seemingly minor injuries can develop into more significant problems over time.
Seek medical attention
Your health should always be your top priority, so immediately seek medical attention for your injuries. Even if you believe your injuries are trivial, it’s essential to have a physician evaluate and document your condition. Overlooking medical treatment can jeopardize your health and make it easier for your company’s insurance provider to argue that your injuries were not severe or were caused by something other than the workplace incident.
When visiting a healthcare provider, remember to inform them that your injury is work-related. This documentation is essential for establishing a link between your injuries and your job, which will be important for your compensation claim.
Suffering a workplace injury is a challenging and often overwhelming experience. However, taking the right steps immediately after an incident can significantly improve your chances of securing the compensation you need to recover.]]>On Behalf of The Gaudreau Law Firm<![CDATA[Why employees should use workers’ comp, not health insurance]]>https://www.gaudreaulaw.net/?p=2543682023-05-01T00:13:25Z2023-05-01T00:13:25Z1. Health insurance doesn't cover everything
The average health insurance policy in the United States puts a lot of responsibility back on the patient. There is often a deductible that requires someone to pay thousands of dollars before the insurance company will cover their treatment costs. There may also be a copay that they will have to provide at every appointment or whenever picking up a prescription from the pharmacy. Finally, there might be coinsurance that makes them responsible for a specific percentage of their treatment costs. By contrast, workers' compensation health benefits in Maryland provide complete, no-fault coverage. Employees won't have to cover any of their treatment costs if they qualify for benefits.
2. The required time off may exceed what someone has available
Someone with a broken bone may need six to eight weeks, at minimum, to be back to full functionality. The average worker will not have six to eight weeks of accrued paid time off benefits to help replace their wages while they recover. Additionally, if they failed to notify their employer of their injury and medical treatment means, the company might be able to terminate them for taking an unwarranted leave of absence. Those who pursue workers' compensation benefits be qualified for disability benefits that will replace some of their lost wages.
They will also have documentation of their medical condition, which will make it easier for them to request accommodations from their employer, including a leave of absence or adjusted employment responsibilities until they recover. Workers unfamiliar with the benefits available to them may put themselves at a disadvantage trying to handle their injuries without support.
Seeking legal guidance to learn more about workers' compensation benefits can empower people to make use of the systems that are in place for their protection and their benefit.]]>On Behalf of The Gaudreau Law Firm<![CDATA[Understanding Maryland’s contributory negligence rule]]>https://www.gaudreaulaw.net/?p=2543612023-01-27T21:13:11Z2023-01-27T21:13:11Zstate has different car accident compensation laws. Many states have compensation laws that follow what’s called a “comparative negligence” rule. That means each person’s financial liability is determined by their level of fault for the crash. Say, for example, you’re found to have 25% of the responsibility for the crash and the other person to have 75%. If you’re awarded $10,000 in damages, you could only collect $7,500 from the other driver and/or their insurer. Other states have modified versions of this rule.
If you contributed even 1% to a crash, the other driver doesn’t have to compensate you
Maryland law, however, is less favorable to drivers who may have a small amount of fault in a crash. Our state follows the “contributory negligence” rule. That means if you’re even 1% to blame for a crash, you aren’t entitled to any compensation for economic or non-economic damages from the other driver. It should be noted that while only a handful of states follow this rule, our neighbors in Virginia and North Carolina as well as Washington, D.C. also follow it.
If you have personal injury protection (PIP) in your car insurance coverage, you can get some compensation through your own insurance. However, if you want to get compensation from the driver responsible for your crash, you’ll need to show that you didn’t contribute in any way at all to the crash. That’s just one reason why it’s important to have experienced legal guidance to help you make that case and maximize the compensation you receive for expenses and damages.]]>On Behalf of The Gaudreau Law Firm<![CDATA[The danger from delivery drivers during the holidays]]>https://www.gaudreaulaw.net/?p=2543592022-10-25T21:03:50Z2022-10-25T21:03:50Z57% of consumers start shopping before November even hits.
All those online orders add up to one thing: A host of delivery drivers will rapidly be making their way down both urban and residential streets. While that may not sound like much of a problem, it can lead to disastrous accidents and life-altering injuries for many.
Delivery drivers are overworked, and that leads to accidents
There have been numerous news articles and investigative reports that talk about the demands being placed on delivery drivers. While most of those have focused on Amazon, every major delivery service – from FedEx to the USPS – tends to feel the heat during the holiday rush.
The reality is that there are numerous factors that make an accident with a delivery driver much more likely during this time of year. They include:
Fatigue: Delivery drivers often work 14-hour days, with few or no breaks. That leads to a mind-body exhaustion that can make even the most dedicated driver fall asleep at the wheel or make careless mistakes on the road.
Frustration: A lot of delivery drivers are constantly being pushed to comply with increasingly strict demands from customers and bosses alike. That can translate into road rage when the pressure builds up.
Dark roads: Because of the change in seasons, delivery drivers may start and end their shift in the dark. It’s much harder to spot pedestrians at this time of the year, especially in residential areas where streetlights might not be as prevalent.
Distractions: Delivery drivers have to make use of GPS technology to get where they’re going, but that means keeping at least one ear on the sound and one eye on the machine – and that’s a distraction behind the wheel. So, too, are contacts from headquarters checking on deliveries.
If you’ve been injured in a wreck with a delivery driver, find out what it takes to get fair compensation for your losses. Holding delivery companies accountable for their actions is the only way to change things.]]>On Behalf of The Gaudreau Law Firm<![CDATA[What protects people in Maryland after a vicious dog attacks them?]]>https://www.gaudreaulaw.net/?p=2543142022-07-26T19:44:29Z2022-07-26T19:44:29ZMaryland holds animal owners accountable
State law regarding animal attacks is quite clear. There is a rebuttable presumption that an animal that attacks a person is a vicious animal. Rebuttable means that the owner could show that there are circumstances that prove the animal was not vicious or unnecessarily aggressive.
For example, someone trespassing at the time that a dog attacked or intentionally aggravating the animal might be to blame for provoking a bite response. However, when a person did not intentionally upset the animal or violate the law immediately prior to the attack, there is an assumption that the owner is at fault for failing to properly train or restrain the animal.
What the owner's liability means for you
When a dog's owner is liable for the injury it causes, the person affected by an attack can take legal action against the owner. Many times, those injured in dog bite incidents can file a claim against the owner's homeowner's insurance or renter's insurance. If there is no insurance coverage available, then the person injured by the animal may need to consider filing a civil lawsuit.
Learning more about Maryland's animal bite liability laws can help you hold someone accountable for their aggressive animal's violence and the injury you suffered as a result of the attack.]]>